Top 5 Pros and Cons of Buying an In-Home Dumbwaiter

If you’re like many Arrow Lift clients, you’re looking for safer, easier ways to move yourself or your belongings throughout your home. Whether it’s groceries, laundry, or storage bins, getting items between floors can often be a hassle, or even a safety risk.

So what are your options? 

You may be familiar with stair lifts (the seat that travels along your stairs) or residential elevators. But there’s another option worth considering: the in-home dumbwaiter.

A dumbwaiter, also sometimes called a “dummy waiter,” is a compact, motorized lift that moves items—never people or pets—between floors. Below, we walk through the top five pros and cons to help you decide if a residential dumbwaiter is right for your home.

Pros of a Residential Dumbwaiter

 If you’re considering a residential dumbwaiter, there are some clear benefits that may make it a smart addition to your home. Here are five top advantages our clients appreciate most.

1. Space-Saving Design

Dumbwaiters require less room than residential elevators or wheelchair lifts. They can be a good fit for homes with limited space.

2. No Impact on Staircases

Stair lifts are wonderful in-home accessibility devices, but they do take up some stair space (though not as much as you might think). In contrast, dumbwaiters operate inside a shaft, allowing your stairs to remain unaffected.

3. Lower Equipment Cost

The cost of dumbwaiter equipment is typically lower than that of a home elevator. Even so, because both require a shaft, total installation costs may be more similar than you’d expect.

4. Everyday Convenience

Dumbwaiters make it easy to move groceries, luggage, and seasonal items between floors. That convenience can quickly become a huge relief compared to life before an in-home lift.

5. Improved Safety

While people and pets can’t ride in dumbwaiters, the equipment still enhances safety by reducing the need to carry heavy or awkward items up and down stairs, a common source of falls. Pairing a dumbwaiter with a stair lift can further improve home safety.

Cons of a Residential Dumbwaiter

Dumbwaiters can offer real advantages, but they’re not ideal for every home or situation. It’s important to understand the limitations before making a decision. Below are five common drawbacks to keep in mind.

1. Not for People or Pets

Remember: No riders allowed! Dumbwaiters are designed for materials only. If you also need help moving between floors, you’ll need a stair lift or elevator. In most cases, a residential elevator may offer better value overall.

2. Costs Can Still Add Up

The expense of a dumbwaiter depends on what you’re comparing it to. Dumbwaiters are generally more affordable than elevators but often cost more than stair lifts. Even if your main goal is to move items, a stair lift might be a more cost-effective option.

3. May Require More Space Than You Think

Compared to an elevator, a dumbwaiter saves space. But compared to a stair lift—especially one that folds up at the bottom of the stairs—a dumbwaiter can take up more room overall.

4. Limited Flexibility for Future Needs

Dumbwaiters are great for item transport. But if your mobility changes, you may wish you’d chosen a solution that also helps you or your loved ones move between floors, whether it’s a stair lift or home elevator.

5. Smaller Size and Capacity

A typical dumbwaiter car is about 4 square feet with a height of 2 to 3 feet. By contrast, most Arrow Lift® home elevators have a car size of 15 square feet and stand 7 to 10 feet tall. A dumbwaiter often requires multiple trips or more effort to move the same number of items.

While we discourage our clients from using home elevators to move large furniture and appliances for safety reasons, it is not unusual to use a home elevator to move normal-sized luggage and similar items throughout the home. One person can easily do this in one or two trips using a home elevator, while a dumbwaiter either requires two people or requires one person to walk up and down the stairs several times to get the job done.

Making the Right Choice for Your Home

By listing potential downsides, we are not trying to discourage you from purchasing a residential dumbwaiter. Quite the opposite! Please revisit the list of dumbwaiter benefits above as a reminder of how these in-home material lifts can help. We always want our valued clients to make wise purchase decisions by considering all pros and cons. 

Dumbwaiters are a helpful option, especially when paired with a stair lift. Still, depending on your space, mobility needs, and long-term goals, a home elevator may provide a more complete solution.

Over the past 40 years, we have seen each of these in-home lifts suit different clients ideally, depending on their specific circumstances. The most important thing to take away is that you are not in this alone. Whether you’re exploring dumbwaiters, elevators, or stair lifts, our Team would be honored to help you find the right fit for your home, budget, and unique situation.

We appreciate you taking the time to learn about these home lift products, and we hope we can help!